The Refresher Course on the Use of Molecular Phylogenetics in Systematics and Biogeography held by the UPLB Museum of Natural History for twenty partipants from the College of Agriculture and Food Science, College of Arts and Sciences, College of Forestry and Natural Resources, and UPLB Graduate School was concluded last 19 February 2018 at the MNH Conference Room.

Eight participants received certificates of completion by attending the four course sessions which were held in four separate dates from January to February 2018 while the rest received certificates of participation.

To further engage and network with other museums in the region, the UPLB Museum of Natural History has joined the meeting of the Southern Luzon Association of Museums (SLAM) recently held this 20 February 2018 at the DL Umali Auditorium.

Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, along with around 30 other museum professionals and representatives from all across Southern Luzon were able to get and share updates on activities of the member museums, the projects of the NCCA-National Committee on Museums, the discussions of the Regional Development Council Committee on Culture, and the association's plans for holding the 2018 Regional Museums Summit this coming October in Batangas City.

Several Museum curators and staff recently participated in the 11th meeting of the Philippine Red List Committee (PRLC) for Wild Fauna organized by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources - Biodiversity Management Bureau last 1-2 February 2018 in Diliman, Quezon City.

Aside from updating the Philippine Red List of wild fauna during the 2-day workshop, museum curators and staff were able to provide their inputs and recommendations in preparing the final list of invasive alien species (IAS) of terrestrial fauna, actively discuss the list of economically important species (EIS) of fauna, and review the draft administrative orders on the three lists which will be signed by the DENR Secretary.

The UPLB Museum of Natural History again offered a free course on biological photography last 31 January to 02 February 2018 as one of its public service initiatives. It was attended by eight researchers and museum technicians from the UPLB MNH, Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research and Extension (OVCRE), Center for Technology Transfer and Entrepreneurship (CTTE) and the Forest Canopy (CANOPI) project.

During the 3-day course, the participants were introduced to the basic parts and operation of a DSLR camera supplemented by hands-on practicum wherein they took several photographs of biological subjects at the Makiling Botanic Gardens and nearby environs.

The UPLB administration is now looking for a new director for the UPLB Museum of Natural History. The term of the current director, Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez, will end on 15 February 2018. The Search Committee, headed by Vice-Chancellor Rex B. Demafelis is now soliciting nominations from the unit's personnel, curators, stakeholders and other personnel from university units, and interested candidates.

Nominees must possess the following minimum qualifications: Commitment to academic freedom and the values and ideals of the university; Distinction or outstanding academic credentials in the nominee's chosen field of expertise which should be along the lines of the unit's disciplines or fields; a Filipino citizen; Outstanding leadership qualities, administrative of managerial capability; Must be willing to serve; and Must consider resource generation as an important function of the position.

Three new species of geometrid moths have been recently described through the collaborative work of the French taxonomist, Claude Tautel and UPLB Museum of Natural History curator, Dr. Aimee Lynn A. Barrion-Dupo.

The first species, Albinospila juancarlosi, was first collected in Banaue, Ifugao in 2012 and further collected from several localities in Luzon and Romblon islands. It has been named after the current director of the UPLB Museum of Natural History Dr. Juan Carlos T. Gonzalez. According to the authors, this species resembles the larger A. variifrons except in the color of the border of the wings. A. variifrons was previously placed under the South American genus Racheospila, and has been re-classified under the genus Albinospila.